A U.S. Military Academy graduate who posed with a sign reading “Communism will win” and posted pro-Colin Kaepernick messages on social media is now being ripped by the former Democratic congressman who helped him get into the prestigious school.

Ex-Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, who served from 2007 to 2013, told The Daily Caller that Second Lt. Spenser Rapone – who is now the focus of an Army investigation – has let him down.

“Several years ago, I met Spenser Rapone when he was a high school student seeking an appointment to West Point,” Altmire said. “At the time, he was an outstanding, well-rounded student who came from a good family. I have not been in touch with him in the years since the appointment, and I was shocked and extremely disappointed in the recent reports of his indefensible actions.”

To get into West Point, applicants must receive nominations, usually from U.S. politicians.

“While I strongly support the rights of American citizens to express their opinions, the actions of 2nd Lieutenant Rapone are abhorrent and appear to be in clear violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, in addition to being inconsistent with the values of the United States Military Academy. I have no doubt that the U.S. Army will take appropriate action,” Altmire told The Daily Caller.

The Army said in a statement Tuesday that “Rapone's chain of command is aware of his actions and is looking into the matter.” The photos began circulating online over the weekend.

Rapone’s father Richard, a treasurer in Lawrence County, Pa., also spoke out against his son in a now-removed Facebook post, according to The Daily Caller.

Richard reportedly said Spenser, who graduated in 2016, was not accepted into West Point right out of high school, but was approved after enlisting in the Army and serving in Afghanistan.

“It’s my belief when he returned back from Afghanistan there was a notable difference in his political views,” the news organization quoted Rapone as posting. “Spenser is my son and I love him dearly, however, I do not like nor condone his politics, his actions or behavior.”

Rapone’s communist sympathies are no secret, the New York Post reported. He once posted photos of himself holding Karl Marx's “Communist Manifesto” and a photo of One World Trade Center with him holding a communist red star on the top.

The "Communism will win photo" was hashtagged #veteransforkaepernick, citing the former NFL player whose national anthem protests have sparked a divisive movement this season.

But a veterans’ subgroup of the Democratic Socialists of America has come to his defense.

“Let there be no doubt that we have unequivocal solidarity with and pride in Spenser. He’s an exceptional soldier,” it posted on Twitter.

Rubio asks Army to kick out West Point grad with pro-communist postsThe Hill ^ | October 4, 2017 | Rebecca Kheel Posted on 10/4/2017, 3:58:51 PM by jazusamo

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is demanding the Army kick out the West Point graduate whose pro-communist social media posts are under investigation.

In a letter to acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, Rubio questioned how someone with the officer’s social media history received a commission and said the Army should immediately nullify the commission and pursue all available disciplinary options under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

“While I strongly believe academic institutions must respect the exchange of ideas and allow students to voice their opinions, members of the military who harbor anti-American views and express their desire to harm our country and its leaders are unfit to serve and defend our nation—and certainly should not enjoy the privilege of attending or graduating from an institution such as West Point, a taxpayer-funded military academy,” Rubio wrote.

At issue are photos 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone posted online last week from his May 2016 West Point graduation. In them, he is wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt under his uniform and has “communism will win” written under his cap.

Further social media posts from Rapone surfaced calling Defense Secretary James Mattis “evil” and “vile” and saying he will “happily dance” on the grave of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

The Army said last week is it investigating and that the posts “in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army."

Rapone is currently assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, according to Army Times . He previously enlisted as an infantryman in 2010 and served in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in 2011, but was “removed for standards” from the regiment later that year. He went to West Point the next year.

In his letter, Rubio said West Point should revoke Rapone’s degree and that he should have to pay back his tuition.

“It is extremely concerning that someone who so often expressed such hostile views towards the United States’ system of government was able to obtain a commission,” Rubio wrote in the letter publicly released Wednesday. “Rapone’s revolutionary ideas were harbored long before he was commissioned as an Army Second Lieutenant. Were West Point administrators or faculty aware of his views and behavior?”

Rubio added that he assumes the incident is “an extreme embarrassment” to West Point and the Army. He also asked what West Point is doing to ensure something like this does not happen again.

“The Army’s premier officer commissioning source must ensure an individual like Spenser Rapone is never given the opportunity to lead or serve beside American soldiers,” he said.

West Point grad who posed with 'Communism will win' in cap dischargedBy Lukas Mikelionis | Fox News

The West Point graduate who posed with a Communism cap is officially out of the U.S. Army. A look at why he was discharged.

The West Point graduate, who last year posed in a picture holding a cap that had “Communism will win” written inside, is officially out of the U.S. Army with an other-than-honorable discharge.

Spenser Rapone rocked the military community last year after his social media posts were revealed, showing him wearing a Che Guevara shirt underneath his military uniform.

He is no longer part of the U.S. military after top brass at Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division accepted his resignation Monday after an earlier warning for “conduct unbecoming of an officer.” He’s leaving the military with an other-than-honorable discharge.